The final "ta/tha" doesn't sound like TAble, but THAi.
So? The Bhagvat Gita, far from calling war futile, urges man to righteous war.
Just because the Pandavas fight for theit kingdom doesn't mean the story glorifies war. The way the war ends, and the fact that an entire Parva is devoted to the lamentation of the wives, makes it clear that the author(s) thinks that even a righteous war is futile. The Pandavas lose all their relatives, including all their sons. Even their grandson is killed in his mother's womb, and survives only because Krishna intervenes.
Krishna's own people become arrogant over their survival, and self-destruct. The Pandavas find no joy in their success. The story goes to great lengths to show that yes, the "good" side triumphed, but at a cost too great to the characters. And the death of the great heroes in the war is to serve as a reminder, a warning that greed should not triumph over morals, but the characters are aware that in the Age of Kali, such incidents will happen again and again. What was the point of the war, then?
It sounds like you are talking exclusively about the Gita. The Mahabharata does not emphasize the futility of war. Quite the opposite - the Pandavas have to fight to regain their kingdom.
So? The Bhagvat Gita, far from calling war futile, urges man to righteous war.
Just because the Pandavas fight for theit kingdom doesn't mean the story glorifies war. The way the war ends, and the fact that an entire Parva is devoted to the lamentation of the wives, makes it clear that the author(s) thinks that even a righteous war is futile. The Pandavas lose all their relatives, including all their sons. Even their grandson is killed in his mother's womb, and survives only because Krishna intervenes.
Krishna's own people become arrogant over their survival, and self-destruct. The Pandavas find no joy in their success. The story goes to great lengths to show that yes, the "good" side triumphed, but at a cost too great to the characters. And the death of the great heroes in the war is to serve as a reminder, a warning that greed should not triumph over morals, but the characters are aware that in the Age of Kali, such incidents will happen again and again. What was the point of the war, then?
This message last edited by fionwe1987 on 03/07/2010 at 08:56:19 PM
One simple question:
01/07/2010 11:00:44 PM
- 1720 Views
Lolita *NM*
01/07/2010 11:13:10 PM
- 685 Views
Have you read Pale Fire? *NM*
03/07/2010 12:14:56 AM
- 638 Views
No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov...
03/07/2010 12:36:39 AM
- 1108 Views
Re: No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov...
03/07/2010 12:38:22 AM
- 1137 Views
Is it unfinished? I seem to recall that, but I could be mistaken... *NM*
03/07/2010 02:15:07 AM
- 656 Views
Pale Fire is an excellent novel, particularly if you like making fun of Robert Frost.
03/07/2010 06:39:29 PM
- 1160 Views
I've always planned on reading it.
04/07/2010 06:30:31 PM
- 1091 Views
I've read all of Pelevin's books other than t, which recently was released.
04/07/2010 06:40:04 PM
- 1146 Views
Sorry. I'm going to have to get back to you on this later.
04/07/2010 07:22:31 PM
- 1192 Views
No problem. I'm stinking drunk and blew up shit to celebrate America's independence.
05/07/2010 05:03:42 AM
- 1238 Views
Paradise Lost *NM*
01/07/2010 11:23:22 PM
- 716 Views
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
01/07/2010 11:31:52 PM
- 1211 Views
What is it about?
03/07/2010 12:14:27 AM
- 1246 Views
The Aeneid, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Macbeth come to mind. *NM*
02/07/2010 02:29:13 AM
- 682 Views
I'm amazed by these responses.
02/07/2010 07:10:31 PM
- 1350 Views
I spent most of my time trying to decide...
02/07/2010 07:22:26 PM
- 1293 Views
Well. I mean a book/story that you thought was pretty close to perfection.
02/07/2010 08:02:55 PM
- 1425 Views
You are not excused.
02/07/2010 11:40:16 PM
- 1388 Views
Wow. That read enough like Tom that I had to check to make sure it was you. *NM*
02/07/2010 11:57:26 PM
- 644 Views
I take that as a compliment and concur completely with Larry's statement.
03/07/2010 06:48:05 PM
- 1217 Views
You make me want to sing
05/07/2010 02:32:37 PM
- 1612 Views
And you make me want to cover my ears
05/07/2010 07:57:12 PM
- 1202 Views
What is yours?
05/07/2010 05:19:23 AM
- 1599 Views
Wraeththu by Storm Constantine is mine.
05/07/2010 07:51:59 AM
- 1299 Views
Easy. The Mahabharatha...
02/07/2010 11:55:27 PM
- 1185 Views
Don't tell Roh.
03/07/2010 12:13:57 AM
- 1116 Views
Which one?
03/07/2010 12:59:43 AM
- 1190 Views
Re: Which one?
05/07/2010 05:28:08 PM
- 1272 Views
There's a "proper one"?
06/07/2010 06:03:55 PM
- 1122 Views

Re: I sent her Kamala Subramaniam's translation.
09/07/2010 08:20:43 AM
- 1225 Views
Ahhh... One of my favorites...
09/07/2010 05:24:55 PM
- 1544 Views
Re: Parva is not a translation of the MB, though, is it. It's a reinterpretation. Which is fine.
09/07/2010 11:01:43 PM
- 1262 Views
It's spelled "Mahabharata".
03/07/2010 06:51:09 PM
- 1155 Views
That's not how it is pronounced though...
03/07/2010 08:54:27 PM
- 1192 Views
Traditional pronunciation vs. modern pronunciation
03/07/2010 09:47:52 PM
- 1168 Views
I learned Sanskrit for years...
04/07/2010 01:28:34 AM
- 1097 Views
However...
04/07/2010 02:31:00 AM
- 1122 Views
See, I was taught that ध produced the sound in "that" and थ the sound in "thought".
04/07/2010 02:44:56 AM
- 1191 Views
Re: I should have read the thread before bothering to give my skimpy response!
09/07/2010 08:26:35 AM
- 1426 Views
American Gods. *NM*
03/07/2010 04:49:18 AM
- 616 Views
I really wanted to enjoy that a lot. It was good, but not amazing, imo.
05/07/2010 05:28:53 PM
- 1168 Views
Shogun
03/07/2010 03:08:04 PM
- 1176 Views
huh. I always felt that...
05/07/2010 10:00:29 PM
- 1109 Views
I really liked Tai Pan as well.
06/07/2010 12:37:58 PM
- 1201 Views
I'd have to say Noble House is the most impressive of the three.
06/07/2010 01:30:11 PM
- 1201 Views
A few that come to mind: Doctor Zhivago, Master & Margarita and Brothers Karamazov
03/07/2010 06:53:25 PM
- 1206 Views